Soldier, 20, convicted of wife's murder

Items compiled from Tribune news servicesCHICAGO TRIBUNE

A soldier was convicted Saturday of murdering and mutilating his teenage wife, a Ft. Lewis spokesman said.

An Army jury found Spec. Brandon Bare, 20, of Wilkesboro, N.C., guilty of premeditated murder and two counts of indecent acts for chopping his wife to death with a meat cleaver and desecrating her corpse.

After a five-day court-martial the jury deliberated about four hours before reaching the verdict, said Ft. Lewis spokesman Joseph Piek.

Bare faces life in prison.

Nabila Bare, 18, had been stabbed at least 71 times when she was found July 12, 2005, in the couple's kitchen.